SOC 204 Final

Marriage

A legal and/or social contract between two people that historically encompasses family formation. Trends include decreased stigma for pre-marital sex, a delay in marriage, and rising expectations for partners in the relationship.

Homogamy/Assortative Mating

The tendency of individuals to select romantic partners who share similar traits, such as age, education level, race, and income. This is especially common in opposite-sex couples due to a broader selection pool.

Cohabitation

The act of living together in a sexual relationship without marriage, a practice that has become increasingly common, particularly among younger individuals and those with liberal views.

Singlehood

A demographic trend that is often associated with delayed marriage and increased cohabitation, particularly prominent during certain stages of life.

Polygamy

The practice of having multiple spouses simultaneously, prevalent in 78% of cultural groups globally.

Polygyny

A form of polygamy where one man is married to multiple wives, which is the more common form of polygamous relationships.

Polyandry

A rare form of polygamy where one woman has multiple husbands, occurring in only about 1% of cultures.

Bigamy

The illegal act of marrying one person while still legally married to another individual.

Social Construction of Race

A concept where race is viewed as a superficial physical difference that has been socially constructed to hold significant importance, historically utilized to justify discriminatory practices.

Ethnicity

A category based on a shared culture, which may include language, religion, and traditions. Panethnicities represent broader ethnic classifications like 'Asian American' or 'Latinx'.

Institutional Racism

Systematic forms of racism embedded within societal structures, exemplified through phenomena like white privilege and social networks that exclude minority groups.

Redlining

A discriminatory practice that involves denying mortgages to individuals in minority communities, which severely limits their capacity for accumulating generational wealth.

Pluralism (Salad Bowl)

The sociological model in which minority groups maintain their distinct cultural identities even while coexisting within a broader society.

Assimilation

The process through which minority groups adapt and conform to the dominant culture; this can occur voluntarily or be forced, as seen in historical immigration contexts.

Amalgamation

The blending of dominant and minority groups leading to the creation of hybrid cultures that incorporate elements from both.

Stratification

The structured hierarchical arrangement of individuals in society based on various factors including wealth, income, education, and power dynamics.

Caste System

A rigid social structure that assigns individuals to distinct ranks at birth, where mobility between ranks is not possible; a prime example is the traditional caste system in India.

Class System

A social hierarchy where individuals are ranked based on wealth, education, and occupation, allowing for the possibility of moving between different social classes.

Income vs. Wealth

Income refers to the flow of money received over a specified period, while wealth represents the total accumulation of valuable assets, encompassing items such as real estate and investments.

Social Mobility

The capacity for individuals to move and change social classes, which can occur either within one's lifetime or across generations.

Intragenerational Mobility

A type of social mobility that takes place within a person's lifetime, involving changes to their social status.

Structural Mobility

A shift in social positions for entire groups rather than individuals, often influenced by societal changes or shifts in the economy.

Poverty in the U.S.

Defined in terms of specific income thresholds, with evidence showing that minimum wage jobs often do not provide sufficient income for a livable standard of living.

Functionalist View on Stratification

The perspective that stratification incentivizes hard work and serves as a justification for the existing inequalities present in society.

Conflict Theory on Stratification

A viewpoint that sees wealth as a socially created entity, suggesting the system predominantly benefits those who control economic resources.

Symbolic Interactionism on Stratification

A theory that explores how economic barriers and social status are deeply intertwined with culture, demonstrated through behaviors like conspicuous consumption.

Global Stratification

The uneven distribution of wealth and resources on a global scale, heavily influenced by historical developments and technological advancements.

Measuring Global Stratification

Global stratification is assessed through various indicators including GDP per capita, the Human Development Index (HDI), and analyses of income inequality.

Digital Divide

The gap that exists in access to technology across different demographics, including class, race, and geographical location, often exacerbating existing inequalities.

Knowledge Gap

A resultant disparity from the digital divide in which certain groups have greater access to information, leading to skewed knowledge levels in society.

Social Media Perceptions

General attitudes towards social media, which vary by demographic; typically, younger populations and liberals view it positively, while conservatives express concerns regarding misinformation and bias.

Social Media vs. Traditional Journalism

A contrast highlighting that traditional journalism adheres to verification and fact-checking standards, while social media lacks these rigorous protocols.

Newshole

The remaining portion of space available for news coverage after advertisements have been accounted for, which can significantly shape media narrative.

Functionalist View on Media

A perspective suggesting that media serves key functions such as providing entertainment and facilitating socialization processes within society.

Conflict Theory on Media

A viewpoint that critiques the control of media by elite groups and addresses issues related to digital surveillance.

Symbolic Interactionism on Media

An analytical approach that investigates how media consumption influences personal identity and shapes communication styles.

Deviance

Behavior that contravenes established contextual, cultural, or social norms; it is subject to social construction and can highlight societal issues, changing over time.

Crime

Actions that breach official legal codes; notable distinctions exist between violent and non-violent crimes, as well as between street and corporate crimes.

Labeling Theory

A sociological theory which posits that deviance is not inherent in an act but is rather defined by societal reactions, differentiating between primary deviance (minor norm violations) and secondary deviance (which affects self-concept and ongoing behavior).

Sanctions

Mechanisms for societal enforcement of norms, which can either be positive (rewards) or negative (punishments) in nature.

Formal Sanctions

Official responses to behavior, including rewards or punishments that are imposed by authorities.

Informal Sanctions

Non-official responses to norm violations, such as social disapproval, shaming, or awkwardness.

Functionalism

A sociological perspective positing that deviance serves to challenge societal norms, reinforce rules, and can arise from blocked opportunities (e.g., strain theory).

Conflict Theory

A viewpoint that connects deviant behavior to existing power inequalities and economic conditions, suggesting that those with power define deviance.

Symbolic Interactionism

An approach that focuses on how society labels behaviors as deviant and how these labels influence individual identities.

Uniform Crime Report (UCR)

A national database of crime statistics compiled from reports made by law enforcement agencies across the United States.

National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

A survey method aimed at gathering data directly from victims to address the problem of underreporting of crime.

Crime Rate vs. Public Perceptions

The discrepancy where actual crime rates may decline, yet public perception of crime remains high, often influenced by media portrayal.

Power

The capacity to influence or control others, categorized into different types, including coercive power (force), legitimate power (recognized authority), and expert power (knowledge).

Authority

The accepted right to exercise power, which can be categorized into traditional authority (based on longstanding customs), charismatic authority (based on personal appeal), and legal-rational authority (based on formal rules and laws).

Forms of Government

Different structures of governance including democracy (rule by the people), monarchy (rule by a king or queen), authoritarianism (concentrated power), and totalitarianism (absolute control over all aspects).

Voting Patterns in the U.S.

The trends in voter behavior influenced by demographic factors such as age, race, level of education, and political engagement.

Value-Added Theory

A framework explaining social movements that suggests they emerge from structural conditions that allow for conducive and strained environments, combined with shared beliefs and organizational mobilization efforts.

Protest Cycle

Series of successive waves of activism; includes recent movements such as Black Lives Matter and global climate protests that reflect current sociopolitical moments.

Reform Movement

A social movement aimed at changing specific aspects of society without the goal of complete societal overhaul.

Revolutionary Movement

A form of activism that seeks a comprehensive transformation of society, often characterized by efforts to dismantle existing institutions.

Religious Movement

A movement that centers around spiritual or moral transformation, typically founded upon faith-based principles or beliefs.

Alternative Movement

An initiative focused on individual or lifestyle changes rather than broad societal shifts, often appealing to personal growth.

Resistance Movement

Movements that actively oppose changes or policies, striving to maintain existing conditions or revert back to previous social states.